Meaningful Judaism
Meaningful Judaism is a podcast dedicated to exploring why we do what we do in Jewish life, by diving deep into the Torah text. So many of our practices can feel like they’re just there; we go through the motions but they don’t feel especially meaningful. In this podcast, we search for that meaning. Each episode will take you on a journey, tackling questions such as “Why can’t we mix milk and meat?” and “What’s the meaning behind the laws of niddah?” Join our host, Imu Shalev, along with Rabbi Fohrman and Aleph Beta’s other wonderful scholars for this special journey.
Meaningful Judaism is a project of Aleph Beta Labs. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. To support this podcast, subscribe to Aleph Beta.
Meaningful Judaism
What’s Meaningful About Keeping Shabbat?
What’s meaningful about keeping Shabbat? Lots of things, right? It’s a day of rest, a chance to put down our phones, learn and pray, focus on our family and friends. But Shabbat has its challenging aspects too. Sometimes the restrictions of Shabbat weigh on us and make it hard for us to appreciate how meaningful it is. So how do we hold on to a sense of the beauty of this day?
Well, what if we knew that keeping Shabbat actually makes something important, something kind of magical, happen in the world… even when it seems as if we’re just sitting at home doing nothing? And wouldn’t it be amazing if we had something to do or say, every single week, to remind us that we’re about to make this transcendent thing happen?
In this episode of Meaningful Judaism, Rabbi David Fohrman dives deep into the words of the Torah’s commandment to keep Shabbat and uncovers a surprising message about the profound meaning of resting on the seventh day. In conversation with host Imu Shalev, Rabbi Fohrman takes a new look at a Shabbat practice we may never have thought much about. And what they discover is that this familiar ritual actually ushers us through a portal to the transcendent meaning we long for.
Boy soloist featured in this episode: Reuven Richman
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Meaningful Judaism is a project of Aleph Beta Labs. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.